The state recently purchased a large block of property upstream of the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon. This is the site of the first Wild Trout Management Area (WTMA-class 1), an area many of you know. Because this new property is being broken out as a new Wildlife Management Area the WTMA regulations currently does not extend into the new property. To temporarily protect the wild trout in this stream section the Area has been officially closed to all fishing and was posted by me this morning, (April 20th). We can not extend the WTMA into this new property until the next regulation package goes to the legislature. This will not be until fall at the earliest. The Conservation officers have been notified of the changes and will be looking for anyone fishing in the posted sections. If you could pass this information along to your respective club members, it would be appreciated.

Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Neal

The Public Hearing of Jan 26. for application C-11-4(the rock crushing project owned by Kobyluck Construction Co.) before the Waterford Wetlands Commission was continued until Feb. 9. Comments will be accepted up til then. Turn out was good; about 50 people including at least 6 TVTU members! The applicant took over 2/12 hours to present! Then the intervenors got to speak. Alison and I presented the commission with two documents; 1) a letter from CTTU Council Chairman Glowienka stating the Councils' support of TVTUs' opposition and 2) a document compiled by Alison stating specific areas of concern and impacts on behalf of TVTU. I also presented a letter on behalf of CTRI Coastal Flyfishers stating areas of concern and impact. That meant the documents we provided were on behalf of over 3,200 concerned tax paying men and women! Good communication within our organization was the key to this coming together: THANK YOU.

Amongst the 50+ items entered into the records was a VERY strongly worded letter from Waterford residents Senator Andrea Stillman and State Rep. Betsy Ritter stating their opposition and concerns on behalf of "our town." We stayed til 11:15pm until the Kobyluck portion of the hearing was over.

Send any questions, comments, and advice...
Hendrik 860-271-5494 or
Alison 860-501-7775 atamsett@live.com

The invasive freshwater alga, Didymo - commonly called "Rock Snot" - has been discovered in the West Branch of the Farmington River. The first reported case in Connecticut.

With Opening Day just two weeks away, there is a very real danger of didymo spreading to other streams in the state. Please read the following and help us prevent didymo from spreading to other rivers and streams.

Why It Is A Threat

Didymo - Didymosphenia geminata - is a highly invasive alga species that was first identified in New England in 2007. During blooms, didymo can form thick mats of material that feel like wet wool and are typically gray, white and/or brown, but never green in color. These mats form on the bottoms of rivers and streams and can potentially smother aquatic plants, aquatic insects and mollusks, impact fish habitat and alter aquatic food chains.

What You Can Do

According to the Connecticut DEP, humans are primarily responsible for the recent spread of didymo. Anglers, kayakers and other water sport enthusiasts can all unknowingly spread didymo. The microscopic cells can cling to many surfaces on fishing gear, including wader seams, boot laces, gravel guards, wading boots (especially felt soles), boats and other surfaces and remain viable for months under even slightly moist conditions. To prevent the spread of didymo, the DEP is asking anglers to practice CHECK, CLEAN, DRY procedures.

CHECK

Before leaving a river, stream or lake, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water and place these clumps of algae in the nearest trash container. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose of all material in the trash.

CLEAN

Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other "hard" items for at least one minute in either very hot (140°F) water, a 2% bleach solution, or a 5% dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30 minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5% dishwashing detergent. Freezing thoroughly will also kill didymo.

DRY

If cleaning is not practical, after the item is completely dry to touch, wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.

What Trout Unlimited Is Doing

Trout Unlimited leaders from across the state are working closely with the Connecticut DEP, angling groups, watershed associations and others to develop a long-range plan for addressing the threat posed by didymo.

In the coming weeks, we hope to have more practical advice on how you can help us contain the risk of didymo.

In the immediate term, our efforts will be on raising awareness of the issue and helping anglers and other recreational river users learn how they can help fight the spread of didymo.

Help us spread the word. Forward this email to your friends, fellow fishermen and others who may come in contact with didymo in the West Branch of the Farmington River.

Thank you for all that you do for coldwater conservation here in Connecticut.